Secondary plug switch



9 5- E. s. CORNELL ET AL 2,015,710

SECONDARY PLUG SWITCH Filed Aug. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Get. 1, 1935.E. s. CORNELL ET AL 2,015,710

SECONDARY PLUG SWITCH Filed Aug. 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct.1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SECONDARY PLUG SWITCH of IllinoisApplication August 14, 1933, Serial No. 685,047

12 Claims.

Certain types of electric power stations employ circuit breakers thatare movable into and out of their normal operative positions. Themovement may be either a horizontal movement or a vertical movement,depending upon the particular construction involved. In the systemswherein the horizontal movement is employed the breaker is mounted on atruck, or the like. In the .systems wherein the vertical movement isemployed, the breaker is mounted on an elevating or hoisting mechanism.Both of these systems include a stationary structure provided withswitching means cooperating with switching means carried by the circuitbreaker for establishing the power connections to the breaker when thebreaker is moved into its normal operative position.

Circuit breakers of the above mentioned types are provided withoperating and tripping means,

generally arranged for remote control. Also, it is desirable to providemeans for indicating, at a remote point, whether the breaker is in itsoperative position, whether it is closed or open, and to provide othersignaling and metering arrangements. The control circuits extend fromthe control switch board to the stationary structure and are connectedto the movable breaker through cooperating secondary switch memberscarried, respectively, on the breaker and on the stationary structure.It is with such secondary switch members that the present invention isconcerned.

The number of secondary circuits that are established by the breakerwhen it is moved into its operative position differs in differentinstallations, depending upon the extent of control and indicationrequired bythe customer. Itis one of the objects of the presentinvention to provide a structure wherein the switching units comprisingthe secondary switch are of identical construction and may be assembledin any desired number to form the complete secondaryswitch. This affordsa high degree of flexibility.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aconstruction wherein each unit or pole of the secondary switch assemblycooperates with the adjacent units or poles to help maintain the unitsin alignment. This is accomplished, in the embodiment of our inventionhere illustrated,

by providing cooperating slots and projections on adjacent units, sothat the projections of one unit enter the slots of the adjacent unitand thus serve to lock the two units together.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a structurewhich may be assembled in a simple andexpedient manner. The respectiveunits of the switch are provided with rod receiving openings, wherebyany number of units may be strung on one or more rods which hold theassembly in place. 5

Each of the switching units is provided with means for receiving a tabfor indicating the circuit to which that pole is connected. In orderthat the units or poles of the movable assembly shall cooperate with thecorresponding poles of 10 the stationary assembly, we provide astructural arrangement which will positively prevent the bringingtogether of the movable with the stationary parts in any but onedefinite relationship. The unit parts of each group are maintained in 15certain definite, spaced and aligned relation, and are dissymmetricallyarranged from end to end of the a'ssemblyso that the two assembliescannot be brought into electrical contact if one of the assemblies isreversed with respect to the other. 20 In addition, one of the end unitsof the assemblies is spaced from its adjacent unit to prevent even apartial. bringing together of the two coacting assemblies in relativelyreversedrelationship.

The attainment of the above and further ob- 25 jects of the presentinvention will be apparent from the following specification taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings: 30

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, in longitudinal section, illustratingour improved switch;

Figure 2 is a side view of the receptacle assemy;

Figure 3 is a side view of the plug assembly;

Figure 4 is a top view of the contact receptacle housing;

Figure5 is a side view of the contact receptacle housing; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of one of the con- 40 tact plug units.

Reference may now be had more particularly to Figure 1. The receptacleassembly is indicated in general at I, and the plug assembly at 2. Thereceptacle assembly is mounted upon a stationary 45 structureconstituting a complete switching unit as shown, for instance, in thepending application of ourselves and Joseph A. Stoos, Serial No.685,048, filed August 14, 1933. For the purpose of the presentillustration it may be sufiicient to 50 point out that the receptacleassembly is mounted upon one of the flanges of a channel 3 of thestationary structure. The channel 3 is provided with a sheet metal upperextension 5 and a sheet mental front 6 to form a box which constitutes a55 wiring gutter for wires to the receptacle assembly. The lower end ofthe gutter is closed by a bottom 7,

r and the rear of the gutter is closed by a rear wall 8.

The plug assembly 2 is mounted in a box H] which is ,of sufficient sizeto allow wiring gutters on one side and on the bottom. The box isprovided with a removable front cover plate H to permit access to theswitching'unit therein; The box It is supported by pipe nipples I2 whichare attached at their lower ends to the top of the housing of thecircuit breaker operating mechanism l3 that is secured to the head of acircuit breaker indicated at M. The pipes i2 also act as conduits forthe wires between the plug assembly 2 and the motor mechanism l3. Thecircuit breaker and its associated operating mechanism with the plugassembly mounted thereon are adapted to be raised or lowered in anypreferred manner, such for instance, as is set forth in'the abovereferred to application, in order to bring the circuit breaker to itsoperative position. At the same time the plug assembly is brought intocooperating relation with the receptacle assembly l.

A description will now be given of the construction of the plugassembly. The plug assembly comprises a number of identical unitsindicated at 22. Each unit comprises a plug 2| and a body' of insulation22. The plug comprises an extruded brass conductor having a cylindricalknob 23 at its outer end. The lower end of the plug is bent to form ashort L. The body of insulation 22 comprises a phenol condensationproduct, or the like, molded around the end of the plug by means of. asuitable set of dies. The end 25 of the plug conductor 2! extendsoutside of the body of insulation and is drilled as indicated at 26. Thecontrol wire may be connected to the end of the plug by insertion intothe drilled hole 26 and soldering therein. Any other means may be usedfor connecting the control wire to the end 25 of the plug conductor 2|as, for instance, tapping the hole 26 and providing a screw 21 toconstitute a-terminal for receiving'the conductor.

It is to be noted that one face of the body of insulation 22 is providedwith a number of projections 28-28, and'the otherface is provided with asimilar number of recesses 29-29. The projections and recesses areprovided to insure alignment of adjacent plugs. One side of the body ofinsulation 22 is provided with a barrier 35. When two plugs areassembled, this barrier in conjunction with the barrier on the adjacentplug forms a pocket completely isolating the end of the control wirethat'is connected to the plug conductor. Also, a recess 32 is formed inthe molded insulation, this recess being provided for receiving a carddesignating the circuit to which the plug is connected. The body ofinsulation 22 is also provided with three parallel extending holes 33for receiving rods on which the unit is assembled. Ample insulation isprovided between the holes 33 and the plug conductor 2 I.

The plugs are assembled on rods 40 that are extended through the holes33. The projections 28 on one plug unit enter the recesses 29 on theadjacent unit and thus assure proper alignment of the respective units.The plug is polarized by inserting an intermediate steel plate 4! and aninsulating spacer 42. The plate M bears against a plug unit 26 along theface thereof that has the recesses 29. The insulating spacer is providedwith over-sized holes into which the projections 28 of the abutting plugunit extend. It is to be noted that the plate M and the insulatingspacer 42 are not located centrally of the assembled units. This servesto polarize the assembly.

Between the end unit 2011 and its adjacent unit there is interposed aninsulating spacer 13 of a 5 construction similar to that of the spacer52. The plug of the end unit 22a is, therefore, spaced from the plug ofthe adjacent unit by an amount greater than the spacing between theother adjacent plugs. The purpose of this construction will be pointedout as this description proceeds. The entire unit is supported by steelend plates ML-45 through which the rods 4i3l3 extend, said rods beingbolted in place by suitable nuts at their ends. The assembled unit isthen placed in the steel box I0 and held in place by screws 36 thatsecure the end plates 44-45 to the end wall of the box I 6. Theintermediate steel plate 4! is also secured to ,the rear of the box I!)by means of a screw as. This serves to reinforce the assemblyintermediate its end and make it sufiiciently strong against bendingsuch as imposed thereon when it is pulled out of or inserted into thereceptacle assembly.

It is to be noted that the plate ll is of a shorter height than are theplates 46-45. This construction is provided in order to avoidobstructing the space below the plug assembly, and thus to afiord aclear wiring gutter throughout the length of the box I0.

Each of the receptacle units consists of a contact assembly contained ina housing of bakelite or other suitable insulation. The housing is shownmore particularly in Figures i and 5 and comprises a unitary body ofmolded insulation v open at one side for the reception of the receptacleassembly, and closed at its opposite side. The top and bottom of thehousing are provided at one side with projections 5!), and at the otherside with complementary recesses 5i. projections and their adjacentrecesses correspond, respectively, to the projection 28 and recesses 29of the plug assembly, and assure alignment of the adjacent contactreceptacle units.

The contact receptacle is also provided with a card receiving recess 52for receiving a card or other insignia to indicate the circuit to whichthe receptacle unit is connected. One end of the receptacle unit is alsoprovided with a barrier 53 terminating in a bottom wall 54 whichbarrier, in conjunction with the barrier on an adjacent receptacle,forms a pocket for isolating the end of the control wire.

The contact assembly comprises an inverted U- shaped metal yoke 55having end ears 5'! between 55"- which extend .pivot pins 58. Contactfingers 59 are pivoted on thepins 58 and urged toward one another bysprings 60. The ends of the contact fingers 59 are outwardly flared, asindicated at 62, to form guides for the contact plugs. the switch is inits open position, the guides 62 engage projections 63 in thereceptacle, and prevent complete collapse of the contact fingers. Thecontact assembly is set in position in the housing, being insertedthrough the open end of 5 The receptacle units are assembled in much 75The three 40 When J into the corresponding'recesses. 5| of the adjacentunit and thus assure prop-er alignment of the units. w i I i A steelplate 4| and onenoramore insulating spacers 42' arelocatedintermediatethe ends of the unit for a purpose similar to that ofthe plate 4| and the insulating spacer 42 of the plug assembly.Likewise, an insulating spacer 43, which corresponds to the spacer, isinterposed between the end unit, and, its adjacent unit, and for thesame purpose as that for which the spacer 43 is provided. The assemblyis held between a pair of L-shaped end plates 15-,-15 through which therods '|0'||-'|2 extend. In: sulating spacers 18 and 19 are locatedon theopposite sides ofthe plate 4| and between the receptacle unit and ametal plate BEL-theplate 4| being welded to the plate 80. The entireassembly is bolted or otherwise rigidlysecuredjto the lower fiange ofthechannelmember 3, asby means of bolts 8|. The bolts 8| extend throughoversized holes in the plate .80 and in the upper flanges of the endplates IS-16, so that the receptacle assembly can be lined up with theplug assembly in case of slight errors in the location of the mountingholes in the channel member 3.

Before the plug and socket units are finally assembled, respectively, onthe circuit breaker and on the stationary structure, it is customary totest the assembly. In our improved construction this test cannot beperformed with the plug assembly in reverse relation to the socketassembly. When the plug assembly is in reverse relation to the socketassembly it is impossible to bring about entrance of the plugs into thesockets, due to the polarizing spacers 4343 and the spacers 4|4|. Thisassures a correct mounting of the assembly on the cubicle structure andon the circuit breaker, respectively.

From the above description it is apparent that we have invented asecondary switch which is particularly adapted for use in connectionwith a circuit breaker of the type that is removable from its cubicle.The units areof identical construction and can be assembled together inany desired quantity, thus giving an arrangement which is quite flexibleas to the number of contacts provided. Also, the arrangement is such asto facilitate the making of the electrical connection with therespective units.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes we haveherein shown and de scribed a preferred embodiment of our invention.

It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not ilmited tothe precise construction herein shown, the same being merelyillustrative of the principles of our invention.

What we consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A plug and socket connector comprising a pair of end supports'rodsextending between the supports, a plurality of adjacent contact unitsstrung on said rods, each of said units comprising a body of insulationcarrying a projecting contact making member of the plug-in type andmeans carried by the adjacent units for interlocking the units with eachother.

2. A plug connector assembly comprising a pair of end 'supportsrodsextending between the'supports, and a plurality of insulated contactunits strung on said rods, each of said units comprising a body ofinsulation carrying a projecting contact making plug member and havingmeans for receiving a lead wire, each body of insulation having anintegral barrier of inverted L-shaped type at one end adjacent the leadwire receiving means, the barriers of adjacent units defining pocketsfor isolating the ends of the respective lead wires.

3. A plug connector assembly comprising a plurality or similar units inabutment, each unit comprising a body of insulation carrying a contactmaking member and having means for receiving a lead wire, each bodyofinsulation having an'integral barrier of inverted L-shape extendingoutwardly adjacent one end which, with the L-shaped barrier of theadjacent unit, defines a pocket for isolating the lead wire.

4. Aplug and socket connector comprising a plurality of similar units inabutment, each unit comprising a body of insulation carrying a. contactmaking member and having means for receiving a lead wire, each body ofinsulation having a barrier at one end which, with the barrier of .theadjacent unit, defines a pocket for isolating the; lead wire, and eachof said units having a card receiving recess open at one end andterminating at a. barrier at the other end whereby the terminatingbarrier of one unit closes-the open end-of the recess of the adjacentunit.

5. A plug contact unit comprising a plug of conducting material, and abody of insulation molded about one end of the plug with the other endof the plug extending outwardly of the body of insulation, the body ofinsulation having a plurality of parallel rod receiving openingstherein, one side of the body of insulation having a projectionextending therefrom and the opposite side having a complementary groovewhereby the plug contact unit maybe joined to an adjacent unit.

6. A plug and socket connector assembly comprising a pair of spaced endsupports, supporting means extending therebetween, and a plurality ofplug contact units, each of said units including a projecting plugcontact making member carried by an insulating casing, said casinghaving interlocking means on adjacent surfaces thereof, said units beingmounted in abutting alined engagement upon said supporting means.

7. A plug unit for a plug and socket connector assembly comprising aninsulating supporting casing, a contact making member anchored thereinand projecting from one end thereof, integral means extending normal toa lateral side wall of said casing for alining it with a similaradjacent casing, and integral barrier means comprising a top and sidewall portion extending outwardly of said casing for isolating a leadwire connected to said contact making member.

8. A socket unit for a plug and socket connector assembly comprising aninsulating openfaced housing having a recessed socket-receiving portion,a socket engaged within said housing and having resilientcontact-engaging arms normally urged toward each other, means forlimiting inward movement of said arms, and integral projecting meansinterlocking the open-faced side of said housing with the back of anadjacent corresponding housing to close said first housing, saidlimiting means defining a socket opening between said housings.

9. A socket unit for a plug and socket connectorlassembly comprising aninsulating housing, a socket mounted withinv said housing and havingresilient contact-engaging arms normally urged toward each other, meansin said housing for limiting inward movement of said arms, means foralining said housing with an adjacent corresponding housing for closingthe same, and barrier means formed on said housing for isolating a leadwire connected to said socket, said limiting means defining, with saidadjacent housing, an opening into the interior of said first housingaligned with said contact-engaging arms.

10. In combination, in a plug and socket connector assembly of the classdescribed, a plurality of insulated plug units having projectingcontact-making members, means on the adjacent surfaces of said units forinterlocking them in alined position, rod means for supporting saidunits in alined position, means for dissymmetrically spacing said unitson said rod means, a plurality of receptacle units enclosing a pluralityof socket means adapted to receive said contactmaking members, means forinterlocking said receptacle units in alined position, means forsupporting said units in alined position, and means for correspondingly.dissymmetrically spacing said receptacle units on said supportingmeans.

11. A connector assembly comprising a pair of spaced end supports, aplurality of longitudinal body members supporting projecting contact--making members, said body members being dissymmetrically arranged onsaid supporting means on opposite sides of said spacing members andhaving cooperating integrally formed portions for interlocking said bodymembers in alined position upon said supporting means.

' 12. A receptacle unit for a plug and socket connector of the classdescribed comprising an insulating housing having an open-faced portion,a contact making member secured in said housing, means carried by saidhousing providing for connection of a lead wire to said member, aplurality of projecting interlocking means on one face of said housingadapted to cooperate with corresponding means in the abutting face ofthe next adjacent unit, and a plurality of recesses on the opposite faceof said housing adapted to be engaged by a'projection on the abuttingface of the next adjacent unit, and a barrier member on said first-namedhousing projecting normally to 25 said interlocking means for isolatingthe lead wire connection from said adjacent units.

ELIAS S. CORNELL. CHARLES A. KOERNER.

